Resonance relationship with glass shatter

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the conditions under which glass shatters due to sound waves, specifically emphasizing the role of resonant frequency and amplitude. Glass will only break when subjected to sound at its resonant frequency and at a sufficiently high volume, creating standing waves that store energy. The energy dissipation, characterized by the Q factor of the resonator, influences the glass's ability to withstand vibrations. If the amplitude of resonance exceeds the glass's ultimate strength, it will shatter, regardless of whether the sound is at the resonant frequency.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of resonant frequency and standing waves
  • Knowledge of sound wave amplitude and energy dissipation
  • Familiarity with the Q factor in resonators
  • Basic principles of material strength and failure
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the concept of Q factor in acoustics and its implications on resonance
  • Explore the relationship between sound wave amplitude and material failure
  • Study the mechanics of standing waves in different materials
  • Investigate practical applications of resonance in engineering and design
USEFUL FOR

Acoustics engineers, material scientists, and anyone interested in the physics of sound and its effects on materials, particularly in applications involving glass and resonance.

TT0
Messages
210
Reaction score
3
Just to check my understanding:

-The glass will only break when the sound is at the resonant frequency of the glass.
-This creates standing waves in the glass.
-The glass will only shatter if the sound is at a high enough volume (amplitude)
-Otherwise, at a lower volume at resonant frequency, no matter the duration, the glass will vibrate but not shatter
(resonance will cause the secondary object to vibrate at a certain energy but the object won't have increasing energy over time right?)

Could you please confirm my understanding?

Thanks a lot!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Correct. The reason why volume matters is that there is some dissipation.

A nice video on the subject:
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: TT0
I see, that is a very nice video, thanks! So the vibrating glass is a form of standing waves right?

Also, since it took some time for the glass to break is it because despite the vibrations being of the same energy, each vibration weakens the structure of the glass and after enough weakening the glass shatters and not that a greater vibration occurs successively in the glass? (I am thinking about the swing analogy where each push will cause the swing to rise higher than previously, but I don't think it is the case for resonance, would you please confirm this.)

Thanks again
 
I would argue with "_only_ breaks at resonance". It might also break if subject to a very loud sound not at resonance.

The important thing to understand is that the maximum amount of power is transferred from the source to the load at resonance. The power transferred at other frequencies could still be enough to break it.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: TT0, davenn and Nidum
TT0 said:
Just to check my understanding:

-The glass will only break when the sound is at the resonant frequency of the glass.
-This creates standing waves in the glass.
-The glass will only shatter if the sound is at a high enough volume (amplitude)
-Otherwise, at a lower volume at resonant frequency, no matter the duration, the glass will vibrate but not shatter
(resonance will cause the secondary object to vibrate at a certain energy but the object won't have increasing energy over time right?)

Could you please confirm my understanding?

Thanks a lot!
Your statements seem to be correct. The glass could also shatter away from resonance if the amplitude was much greater.
This is my description in more detail:-
When the sound commences, the first wave will exert sound pressure against the glass, which will deflect slightly. Some of the energy will be dissipated as heat in bending the glass, but the majority will be stored in resonance as kinetic energy and elastic potential energy. The resonance mainly involves the bending of the glass rather than the volume of air in the glass. Each wave will cause the resonance to build up in amplitude as more energy is stored and also dissipated. The growth process is relatively slow, depending on the ratio of energy stored/energy dissipated per cycle. This is also called the Q of the resonator and may be in the order of 1000. The glass will also re-radiate sound, and when the energy dissipated equals half the incident energy, no more growth will occur.
The amplitude of the glass resonance is in quadrature to the incoming sound wave, and is proportional to Q. So it can be very large, larger than the sound wave displacement, as it is in quadrature to it. If this amplitude stresses the glass beyond its ultimate strength then the glass will break. If the sound ceases, the stored energy will gradually dissipate as heat and sound radiation.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: TT0

Similar threads

  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
7K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 92 ·
4
Replies
92
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
8K
Replies
17
Views
4K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
5K